Railroad crossing



April 1939- L. ALEXANDER 2,152,857

RAILROAD CROSS ING Original Filed Dec 26, 19 35 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I April 4,1939.

BB 29- l 1"! III i I L. ALEXANDER RAILROAD CROSS ING Original Filed Dec. 26, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 lieu/55 April 1939- L. ALEXANDER 2,152,857

RAILROAD CROSS ING Original F'il'ed Dec. 26, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 @&

April 4, 1939.

L. ALEXANDER 2,152,857 R AAAAAAAAAAA SING Original Filed Dec. 26, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT mm.-

Application December 26, 1935, Serial No. 56,155 Renewed September 2, 1938 15 Claims.

This invention relates to railroad crossings, and more particularly to those having provisions for preventing the pounding of the wheels on therails, at such crossings, caused by the gaps ordinarily found in a crossing of this kind.

Generally stated, the object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construction and arrangement whereby the car wheels are practically continuously sup-ported and do not encounter any gaps of a character to cause the pounding of the wheels on the crossing, so that a train may pass over the crossing with practically no pounding or vibration.

It is also an object to provide certain details and novel features of construction tending to increase the efficiency and desirability of a railroad crossing of this particular character.

To the foregoing. and other useful ends, the invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a railroad crossing involving the principles of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged. vertical section on line 5 2-2 in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section on line 3-3 in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of the parts of the crossing.

3 Fig. 5 is a similar view of another part of the crossing.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section on line 6-6 in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Fig. 7 is a similar section on line 1-1 in Fig. 1

35 of the drawings.

Fig. 8 is a similar section on line B8 in Fig. 1

of the drawings. I Fig. 9 is a similar section on line 9--9 in Fig. 1

of the drawings. 40 Fig. 10 is a similar section on line ill-l0 in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Fig. 11 is a similar section on line llll in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Fig. 12 is a similar section on line l2-l2 in 45 Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Fig. 13 is a similar section on'line l3l3 in Fig. 1 of the drawings.-

Fig. 14. is a similar section on line I l-M in Fig. lof the drawings.

50 Fig. 15 is a similar section on line 15-45 in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Fig. 16 is a similar section on line lit-I3 in Fig. 1 of the drawings. As thusillustrated, the invention comprises a 55 railroad crossing in which the base or main supporting structure comprises two main bed castings of the kind shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

It will be seen that two of these castings, with one turned end for end, will fit together at the ends of the transverse portions 1 and 2, in the 5 manner indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. As shown, the crossingis' oblique, and is designed for the intersection of a track for high speed passenger service, and a track for trafiic of less speed. High speed rails 3 are bolted to the por- 10 tions 4 of said bed castings, between the latter and the short rail sections 5, by bolts 6, as shown more clearly in Fig. 8 of the drawings, upon the bottom web 7 of each of said castings. The low speed rails, so to speak, 8 are bolted to the por- 16 tions 9 of said base castings.

To hold the two base or bed castings together, at their traverse end portions l and 2, rail sections it] are bolted in place, as shown in Fig. 6 of the. drawings, and spaced from the raised por- 20 tions ll of said castings, whereby the latter are in line with the rails 3, previously mentioned, and constitute a part of the path of the latter on the crossing.

Said castings have raised portions l2 that are in line with the rails 3, and that form a part' of the path. of the wheels, traveling on the rails 3, previously mentioned. The raised portions l3 of the castings form a part of the path of the wheels traveling on the rails 8, previously mentioned, as well as the raised portions M of said castings. There are gaps or grooves l5 for the flanges oi the wheels traveling on the rails 3, these grooves or depressions being in line with the spaces between the rails 10 and the portions ll, previously mentioned. That completes the rigid part of the crossing structure.

The movable portions of the crossing structure comprise the two rail sections it and [6, having inwardly bent or flared end portions ii, and having notches H3 in line with the notches or grooves 15, previously mentioned, the relative depth of such. notches or grooves l8 being indicated in Fig. 11 of the drawings, whereby clearance entirely across the crossing is provided for the flanges of the wheels traveling on the rails 3 of the so-called high speed section of the crossing. These rail sections 16 are mounted for lateral movement, inwardly, away from the portions I 4, previously mentioned, but the two are held normally together, as shown in Fig. 13, by spring bolt connections IQ, of the kind shown in Fig. 16 of the drawings. The rail sections [6 have inside lateral projections 26 engaged between rollers 2|, mounted on the two base castings, and

they also have inside lateral wheel supporting sections 22 that project into cooperative relation with the wheel supporting portions ll, previously described. A slot and pin connection 23, of any suitable character, between the rail sections I6 and the base castings, serves to maintain the movable rail sections IS in proper relationto the other parts of the structure, when these sections it move inwardly or toward each other, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

Assuming that a train is traveling on the rails 3, the wheels thereof will leave the said rails, at one side of'the crossing, travel over the portions 12 at such side of the crossing, then over the rail section I6 at that side, and upon the portions'22 of this rail section, then over the portions II, and then over the portions 22, I6 and 12, at the other side of the crossing, and finally out on the rails 3 at the said other side. It will be seen that as the wheels travel from the portions 22 to the portions H, by reason of the overlapping arrangement of the same, there is no jolting or pounding action of the wheels, and in effect the wheels travel from the rails 3 at one side to rails 3 at the other side, over practically continuous supporting surfaces for the treads of the wheels. Thus, trains pass at high speed with practically no pounding or vibration.

Assuming that a train is traveling on the rails 8, the flanges of said wheels leave the rails 8 at one side of the crossing, and crowd in between the portions I1 and the portions l3, thus moving the two rail sections it toward each other, and providing space between these rail sections and the portions I l for the passage of said flanges, and at such time the only gaps encountered by the treads of the wheels will be the grooves l5, previously mentioned. However, as these grooves l5 are only in the path of the wheels of the relatively slow traffic, there will be only a minimum of pounding or vibration. As soon as this train has passed, the rail sections it are brought back into normal position, by the spring bolt connections I9, previously mentioned, and the crossing is then in normal condition, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The elements 20 and 2! and 23, previously described, tend to control the lateral displacement of the rail sections I6, so that the latter remain parallel with the wheel supporting portions M of the two bed castings.

It will be seen that the construction is such that the various parts are comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, and that the assembling of the difierent parts is a simple and comparatively inexpensive operation. In addition, the

structure is such that it will stand up under heavy trafiic, and will not tend to wear out prematurely, While at the same time insuring comparative safety for the traflic passing over the crossing.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that trains traveling on the rails 3 pass the crossing without any jolting or jarring, as a practically smooth and continuous rail effect is provided for trains traveling on these rails, while passing over the crossing. On the other hand, trains traveling, at slower speeds, preferably, on the rails 8, will pass the crossing satisfactorily, but with some slight jolting, as the wheels travel across the gaps or grooves l5 in the bed castings. Therefore, the crossing construction provides at least one path of travel for trains, to prevent jolting or pounding, but at the same time the wheels of other trains are free to pass over the crossing at an angle to said path of travel of the high speed trains. In other words, the fact that no movable members or elements are provided for actuation by car wheels traveling on the rails 3, does not leave the rails 8 and the connecting portions of the crossing inoperative to support car wheels for satisfactory travel over the crossing.

It will be seen that the wheels traveling on the track 8 have a tread path that is absolutely without any movable parts, for these wheels do not travel on any movable parts of the crossing. Hence each bed plate of the kind shown in Fig. 5 provides a rigid tread path for the wheels traveling on one track, and obviates the necessity of using any movable parts for supporting the wheels traveling on the rails 8 while passing over the crossing. But wheels traveling on the rails 3 have tread paths on the crossing that involve movable wheel supporting elements or parts, elements that are moved by the wheels traveling on the rails 8, in the manner explained. Thus all movable parts of the crossing remain in normal position while the wheels of the rails 3 are passing over the crossing.

The rigid wheel supporting elements II and II are each separable at the middle thereof, and are at the inner sides of the movable elements 22, 22, 22, and 22, as the ends of said rigid elements overlap the ends of said movable elements. Also, each element 22 at the right, in Fig. 1, is rigid with a similar element 22 at the left in this plan view of the drawings. In other words, each element it rigidly connects two movable elements 22 together.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a railroad crossing, wheel supporting elements forming in efiect one track that crosses another track at an angle thereto, upon both of which tracks the wheels may travel over the crossing, having means co-operating to provide a practically smooth and continuous rail effect and path of travel for the treads of the wheels, on at least one track, to prevent jolting or pounding, with movable wheel supporting elements normally abutting the flange side of the rails of said another track at one side rigid with similar elements at the other side of said one track, for the wheels on said one track, rigid wheel supporting elements forming part of said path of travel, and disposed at the inner sides of said movable elements in overlapping relation therewith, so that the extreme end of each rigid element is at the flange side of the wheel treads of said one track, and means preventing movement of said movable elements of the crossing by the flanges of the wheels on said path of travel, whereby all portions of the crossing remain in their one normal stationary position during the crossing of trains on said one track, and each rigid element being separable at its middle at a point substantially midway between the rails of the other track.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1, in the specific combination thereof, said movable elements extending entirely across and beyond the sides of the track, that remain. stationary in normal position during the passing of said Wheels over the crossing, and which are notched for the flanges of the wheels, but which are movable laterally and inwardly during the passing of wheels over the other track.

3. A structure as specified in claim 1, in the specific combination thereof, comprising means whereby all parts of the tread support for wheels traveling on the other track are integral and thereby held rigidly in fixed position on said crossing.

4. A structure as specified in claim 1, in the specific combination thereof, having duplicate bed castings forming rigid tread sections for at least one track, extending across from one side to the other of the crossing, to the ends of which the rails are directly secured, rigid means on said castings forming parts of the treads of the other track on the crossing, and means for rigidly connecting said castings together.

5. A structure as specified in claim 1, in the specific combination thereof, said one track having wheel flange grooves that constitute fixed gaps in the treads of the other track.

7 6. A structure as specified in claim 1, in the specific combination thereof, at least one track having two rigid parallel treads extending entirely across and beyond opposite sides of the other track, with a rail coupled to each end of each rigid tread.

7. A structure as specified in claim 1, in the specific combination thereof, the other track having two rigid parallel treads extending entirely across and beyond the opposite sides of the one track, with a rail coupled directly to each end of each rigid tread.

8. A structure as specified in claim 1, in the specific combination thereof, said movable elements comprising laterally movable bars extending entirely across the said one track and having portions forming certain of said wheel supporting elements, arranged parallel with the path of travel of other wheels traveling at an angle to the path of travel of said first-mentioned wheels.

9. A structure as specified in claim 1, in the specific combination thereof, said elements comprising wheel supporting portions that overlap laterally, so that a wheel may pass from one portion to the other, with a practically continuous support for the tread thereof.

10. A structure as specified in claim 1, in the specific combination thereof, comprising two bed castings having raised portions for engaging the treads of the wheels, and means for rigidly connecting the two castings together.

11. A structure as specified in claim. 1, in the specific combination thereof, said movable wheel supporting elements comprising spring-held movable portions that remain in normal position during the passing of said wheels over the said one track of the crossing, and means whereby said movable portions are displaced by other wheels passing over the crossing at an angle to the path of the travel of said first-mentioned wheels.

A structure as specified in claim 1, in the specific combination thereof, comprising two bed castings having raised portions for engaging the treads of the wheels, and means for rigidly connecting the two castings together, one casting being a duplicate of the other, but turned end for end.

13. In a railroad crossing, bed castings forming the base of the crossing and rigidly connected together, having rigid integral portions to which the ends of all of the rails of the crossing are bolted, so that the sides of these integral portions are fastened directly to the sides of the rails, with base portions of the castings extending under the rails, and movable elements supported on said base, tread means for one track of the crossing in overlapping relation with said movable elements, and rigid tread means for the other track, said movable elements forming part of the tread path of the wheels traveling on said one track of said crossing, extending crosswise between and beyond the sides of said one track, having notches for the flanges of the wheels of this track, said movable elements normally abutting but forming no part of the tread path ,oi' Wheels traveling on the other track of the crossing, whereby to obviate the use of any movable parts for the said tread path of the wheels for said other track.

s. In a railroad crossing, wheel supporting elements forming in effect one track that crosses another track at an angle thereto, upon both of which tracks the wheels may travel over the crossing, having means co-operating to provide in effect a practically smooth and continuous path of travel for the treads of the wheels, on at least one track, to prevent jolting or pounding, with movable wheel supporting elements normally abutting the flange side of the rails of said another track at one side rigid with similar elements at the other side of said one track, and means preventing movement of said elements of the crossing by the flanges of the wheels on said path of travel, whereby all portions of the crossing remain in their normal stationary position during the crossing of trains on said one track, in the specific combination thereof, having duplicate bed castings forming rigid tread sections for at least one track, extending across from one side to the other of the crossing, to the ends of which the rails are directly secured, rigid means on said castings forming parts of the treads of the other track on the crossing, said means being in overlapping relation with the movable wheel supporting elements, and means for rigidly connecting said castings together.

15. In a railroad crossing, wheel supporting elements forming in effect one track that crosses another track at an angle thereto, upon both of which tracks the wheels may travel over the crossing, having means cooperating to provide a practically smooth and continuous rail effect and path of travel for the treads of the wheels, on at least one track, to prevent jolting or pounding, with movable wheel supporting elements normally abutting the flange side of the rails of said another track at one side rigid with similar elements at the other side of said one track, and means preventing movement of said movable elements of the crossing by the flanges of the wheels on said path of travel, whereby all portions of the crossing remain in their one normal stationary position .during the crossing of trains on said one track, in the specific combination thereof, tread means for said one track in normal overlapping relation with said movable elements, the other track having two rigid parallel treads extending entirely across and beyond the opposite sides of the one track, with a rail coupled directly to each end of each rigid tread.

LEWIS ALEXANDER. 

